Marcellus Drilling News

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

Anti-Drilling Enviros Gradually Turning Maryland into Dystopia
August 9, 2013August 9, 2013

An excellent column appears today in the Gaithersburg Gazette by Blair Lee, chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring, MD. (BTW, who knew there were such strong voices of reason left in arguably the most liberal state in the union after Rhode Island?) Lee’s thesis in today’s column: The “fanciful”–we’d say harsh–environmental policies of leftists in Maryland state government threaten the state with a predictable economic collapse. It is a cautionary tale of what happens when anti-drilling/anti-fossil fuel/global warming true believers (“warmists”) get their hands on an entire state. Maryland’s policies exemplify the end result of warmists’ extreme views. And it sure ain’t pretty.

Like all Utopians, the policies of Maryland’s warmists are slowly-but-surely turning the state into a miserable dystopia, free of “evil” things like cars and single-family detached homes:
Read More “Anti-Drilling Enviros Gradually Turning Maryland into Dystopia”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Aug 9, 2013
August 9, 2013August 9, 2013

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Aug 9, 2013”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

New Twist in PA Act 13 Case: Motion to Re-Hear Oral Arguments
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

A new twist in the ongoing court battle over Pennsylvania’s still relatively new Act 13 Marcellus Shale drilling law. A court case has been before the PA Supreme Court since last year challenging provisions in the new law to replace local zoning of oil and gas drilling with a uniform, statewide standard. As MDN told you a few weeks ago, it appears the newly sworn-in seventh justice on the PA Supreme Court will not participate in the decision, leaving a split 3-3 decision a likely outcome (see PA Problem: Act 13 Zoning Case to be Decided by 6 Supremes, Not 7). Split decisions are not good for anyone, and a split decision in this case would leave the lower court rulings stand, gutting part of the Act 13 law.

The new twist: On Tuesday, the PA state Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) filed a joint request that the entire seven-member court re-hear oral arguments in the case so the entire court can make a decision and finally lay this thing to rest, one way or the other. The towns that brought the lawsuit in the first place are objecting because they think they have a better chance at winning with a six-justice panel–a split decision means they win. Are the towns trying to cheat justice?…
Read More “New Twist in PA Act 13 Case: Motion to Re-Hear Oral Arguments”
Economic Impact | EMG | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | MarkWest Energy | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Tuscarawas County

2 New OH Projects: Cryo Processing Plant & NGL Pipeline to Gulf
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

Looks like the Williams/Boardwalk Bluegrass NGL pipeline is about to get some competition. Yesterday, Kinder Morgan, MarkWest and The Energy and Minerals Group (EMG) announced a new joint venture on two projects aimed at the Marcellus/Utica Shale region. The first project is a 400 Mmcf/d cryogenic processing plant in Tuscarawas County, OH to separate raw natural gas into methane and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The second project is a new NGL pipeline that will, like the Bluegrass, run from Ohio all the way to the Gulf Coast. There’s no mention of how much the partners will invest in the two projects, but we believe it could easily approach $1 billion of new investment in the northeast.

This announcement is great economic news for Ohio (Tuscarawas County in particular), and great economic news for Marcellus/Utica drillers who need extra takeaway capacity for the NGLs they’re currently producing. The press release from Kinder Morgan with details about the two new projects:
Read More “2 New OH Projects: Cryo Processing Plant & NGL Pipeline to Gulf”
Dominion Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Gulfport Signs Pipeline Deal to Sell Utica Gas to Midwest Market
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

Straight off a conference call yesterday comes the news that Gulfport Energy has just signed a 10-year contract with Dominion Transmission to transport the natural gas Gulfport produces in the Ohio Utica Shale to the Midwest–using Dominion’s pipelines. The agreement is to ship 100 million cubic feet per day of gas (100 Mmcf/d), ramping up to 150 Mmcf/d by late 2014. Gulfport’s CEO James Palm made the announcement yesterday.

Palm also said on the conference call that Gulfport continues to lease acreage in Ohio and plans to drill “at least” 70 new wells next year in the Utica. More from yesterday’s call:
Read More “Gulfport Signs Pipeline Deal to Sell Utica Gas to Midwest Market”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Guest Post | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

What if PA Dems Win the Next Election and Ban Drilling Statewide?
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

MDN reader, friend and contributor Chris Acker provides the insightful commentary below in response to (and building on) our article of a few days ago, titled: 18 PA House Democrats Dissent from Party’s Vote for Frack Moratorium.

Chris delves into the economic apocalypse that would happen should PA Democrats gain power again in the next election and fulfill their promise of enacting a statewide moratorium/ban on drilling. It is, as Chris points out, a true nightmare scenario:
Read More “What if PA Dems Win the Next Election and Ban Drilling Statewide?”
Commodity Price | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Susquehanna County

At What Mmcf Price Do Shale Drillers Make Money?
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

Ken Medlock, senior director of Rice University’s Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies and a team of Rice researchers recently performed a study of shale drilling economics. One of the questions they looked at: At what price per million cubic feet (or Mmcf) must a driller sell the gas in order to at least break even and not lose money? They have some interesting findings…
Read More “At What Mmcf Price Do Shale Drillers Make Money?”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Williams

Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Encounters Resistance from Some in KY
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

The Bluegrass natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, announced in March 2013, will run from the Marcellus/Utica region southwest all the way to the Gulf Coast in Louisiana (see Williams, Boardwalk Announce Marcellus-to-Gulf Coast NGL Pipeline). The pipeline’s route will take it through Kentucky, where it will connect to Boardwalk’s Texas Gas Transmission, LLC system (Texas Gas) in Hardinsburg, KY. From Hardinsburg, the existing natgas Texas Gas pipeline will be converted to run NGLs. The entire project is slated to be up and running by late 2015.

However, some residents in KY are objecting to the pipeline. Do they have any valid points?…
Read More “Bluegrass NGL Pipeline Encounters Resistance from Some in KY”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | NG Vehicles | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Statewide PA | Washington County

Range Rolls Out New Fleet of CNG Trucks in SW PA
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

Range Resources is practicing what it preaches–or rather consuming what it produces. Yesterday at a ceremony at Range’s regional HQ in Southpointe (near Pittsburgh), the company showed off a new fleet of Dodge and Chevy pickup trucks that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). With the new trucks added, Range now operates 100 of them out of their Southpointe operation. With CNG prices running at the gasoline equivalent of around $2 per gallon, Range says the trucks will pay for themselves within two years due to the low price of using CNG.

According to the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, by the end of this year there will be 100 CNG fueling stations across PA. More and more Pennsylvanians are interested in converting to CNG vehicles…
Read More “Range Rolls Out New Fleet of CNG Trucks in SW PA”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Aug 8, 2013
August 8, 2013August 8, 2013

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Aug 8, 2013”
Broome County | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY | Tioga County (NY)

Chesapeake Energy Throws in the Towel on NY Shale Drilling
August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

A good news/bad news story. The good news is that Chesapeake Energy is giving up the legal fight with landowners in New York to extend their leases beyond the original lease term. MDN has long chronicled the fight on the part of landowners to stop Chesapeake from claiming force majeure to extend leases signed for (in some cases) just a few dollars per acre–leases signed long before horizontal drilling and fracking were contemplated (see More on the NY Force Majeure Ruling Against Chesapeake). After two years of legal wrangling, Chesapeake is throwing in the towel. Landowners will now be able to sign with another company, if drilling ever comes to NY.

The bad news is, Chesapeake is throwing in the towel–as in they are giving up on NY–tired of the ongoing five-year moratorium in shale drilling. Wake up Cuomo! Your actions have caused this! You are causing direct economic harm to your residents every day the moratorium stays in place…
Read More “Chesapeake Energy Throws in the Towel on NY Shale Drilling”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Washington County, PA Judge Continues Anti-Drilling Decisions
August 7, 2013

What if a county judge’s wife was an anti-drilling activist–so motivated by her fervor she knocks on area residents’ doors to ask for their signature on petitions to ban drilling. Do you think that might affect the objectivity of said judge? And what if that judge repeatedly rules against gas drillers in case after case? Do you think that might be evidence that said judge is not capable of setting aside his own bias? Yeah, we would think so too–and such is the case with Washington County, PA judge John DiSalle.

Earlier this year, Judge DiSalle blocked Range Resources from obtaining two permits to drill wells in Robinson Township (see Judge Refuses to Recuse Himself from Range v Robinson Twp Case). Judge DiSalle is back–this time on a different case. DiSalle is now refusing to allow Range and MarkWest Energy to build a compressor station in Cecil Township. See a trend here? Range and MarkWest are appealing DiSalle’s latest anti-drilling ruling to the PA Commonwealth Court…
Read More “Washington County, PA Judge Continues Anti-Drilling Decisions”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Range Resources Backpedals on Gag Order for Hallowich Children
August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

Last week MDN told you about the “final document” to be released in a previously sealed court case in Washington County, PA (see Last Document Released in Hallowich v Range $750K Settlement). The document was a transcript of a court hearing where the Hallowiches, their attorney and attorneys for Range and MarkWest discussed the non-disclosure “gag order” agreement being signed by the Hallowiches. The agreement binds the Hallowiches from ever talking publicly about the case for which they received a $750,000 settlement.

The funky part is, it appears the agreement signed by the Hallowich parents would also bind their children from ever talking about fracking and drilling in public too. Even the judge in the case admitted the agreement seemed to do just that, saying it would be “a law school question.” In a new twist in the case, lawyers for Range now say the gag order does not apply to the children, although previously they said it would apply and that they would “certainly” enforce it…
Read More “Range Resources Backpedals on Gag Order for Hallowich Children”
Energy Companies | Epsilon Energy

Epsilon Energy Makes “About-Face” on Marcellus Drilling
August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

Wow! What a difference a year can make. Last year at this time, MDN told you about Canadian independent driller Epsilon Energy’s decision to scale back drilling in the Marcellus in favor of drilling more in the oil-rich Bakken Shale play in Canada (see Epsilon Energy 2Q12 Update: Scaling Back in the Marcellus). Less than a month ago, there was a shareholder rebellion and the entire sitting board of directors was canned (see Shareholder Rebellion at Epsilon Energy – New Board as of Today).

Yesterday, Epsilon released their 2Q13 update–an update all about the Marcellus. Epsilon CEO Michael Raleigh is quoted in the update as saying the company is just starting to execute a new plan to turn the company into a “pure play” driller–concentrating solely on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. That’s quite a turnabout in 12 months! Relevant portions from yesterday’s Epsilon update and what they hope to accomplish in the Marcellus this year:
Read More “Epsilon Energy Makes “About-Face” on Marcellus Drilling”
Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Gulfport Energy 2Q13: “All in” for the Utica Shale
August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

Gulfport Energy is definitely “all in” when it comes to drilling in the Utica Shale. The Oklahoma City-based company released its second quarter update yesterday, an update that shows that of the nine active rigs Gulfport is operating across three different shale plays, seven of those rigs are operating in the Ohio Utica Shale. Need we say more?

The operational update section of yesterday’s Gulfport update, outlining some of the outstanding results they’re getting in the Utica:
Read More “Gulfport Energy 2Q13: “All in” for the Utica Shale”
Carrizo Oil & Gas | Commodity Price | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues

Carrizo Oil & Gas 2Q13: Scaling Back in the Marcellus…for Now
August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

Carrizo Oil & Gas is a Houston-based driller that concentrates on U.S. shale plays. They have active drilling operations in the Eagle Ford and Barnett (TX), the Niobrara (CO), and in both the Marcellus and Utica Shale region in the northeast (PA & OH). In reviewing today’s Carrizo 2Q13 update, it’s obvious the company has decided to scale back in the Marcellus/Utica for now, in favor of putting their effort into the other plays. Carrizo’s average daily gas production in the Marcellus decreased from 38 million cubic feet per day (Mmcf/d) in 1Q13 to 33.9 Mmcf/d in 2Q13. Why? They’ve “shut-in” a number of their wells in Wyoming County, PA, waiting for the price of Marcellus gas to go up before they sell more.

Gas prices in the very-productive Marcellus are typically some of the lowest in the country. More supply than demand at this point. For example, yesterday the average sale price for natural gas along pipelines in the northeast Marcellus was $1.89 Mmcf according to NGI’s Shale Daily. The average sale price for gas yesterday in the Barnett Shale was $3.36 Mmcf! You can see why Carrizo is cooling their heals in the Marcellus. Here’s the portion of today’s Carrizo update dealing with their drilling program in the Marcellus/Utica:
Read More “Carrizo Oil & Gas 2Q13: Scaling Back in the Marcellus…for Now”